The Puritans in Africa: A Story of Afrikanerdom by W. A. de Klerk

The Puritans in Africa: A Story of Afrikanerdom by W. A. de Klerk is a substantial and thought-provoking examination of the historical, religious, cultural and political forces that shaped Afrikaner identity in South Africa. Written by an Afrikaner author with an intimate knowledge of the society he describes, the book traces the development of Afrikanerdom from its European and Calvinist roots through the formative experiences of settlement, conflict, migration and nationalism.

De Klerk considers the influence of religion, particularly the Calvinist tradition, as well as the historical experiences that helped create a distinctive Afrikaner worldview. The narrative explores the relationship between history, faith, language, politics and national identity, making The Puritans in Africa particularly useful to readers interested in understanding twentieth-century South African political and social history.

Rather than simply presenting a chronological history, De Klerk attempts to interpret the ideas and attitudes underlying Afrikaner nationalism and the development of Afrikaner political power. Originally published in 1975, The Puritans in Africa provides an especially interesting contemporary perspective on Afrikanerdom during the apartheid era and is consequently valuable as both a historical study and a period document.

This Bok Books International edition was reprinted in 1988 and runs to approximately 376 pages including the index.

Condition – Very Good

Covers show light general shelf wear, with minor wear around the edges and corners. Some light foxing and age-related spotting are visible, particularly to the page edges and preliminaries. An Achilles Bozas bookplate, dated June 1992, is affixed to the inside front cover. Binding remains sound and the book presents well overall.